Heater Valve

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Hey,

I'm having some trouble with my 'climate controls' in my 87 16v scirocco.
The heat works great. The trouble is, that is works great all of the time.
Even when the switch is in the 'A/C' position. Now, I could give a hoot if
my A/C really blows icy cold air relative to cool outside air, I just dont
want it to blow hot air. Right now I have to close the center vent and get
the cold air from the side vents only, which is annoying. I have diagnosed
this problem as a bad heater valve. Is this correct? How often and in what
way do these things crap out? I can move the hot/cold slider on the a/c
controls and see the cable move the valve arm, so I think its adjusted
right. Is there any way to check for sure without wasting
time/money/effort on a heater valve if it is unnecessary?

Autotech has them for $9, dealer wanted $15. I'm hoping the local shop in
my area has them for somewhere between or below that, and in stock.

The design of the whole system seems rather poor. Most climate control
systems have air flowing through the heater core only when the flaps
direct it to do so. It appears VW's design has air blowing through the
core even when at the coldest settings, but it just stops coolant flow
through the core. Seems that this would permit a several minute delay for
the cold air to be really 'cold', since the coolant that was in the core
would still be hot, or am i missing osmething here? Maybe it drains out
right away....?

On an unrelated note, I removed my headlight bracket today to get at a
fuel injector o-ring that i dropped behind a metal plate and noticed how
easy it was. Because I'm considering spending money on european
headlights, this concerns me because theft is a problem in my area and
there are a few Sciroccos (old Mk2 8v's) in my area with not-so-reputable
owners. Any suggestions (besides cable lock, which anyone with a nice
pair of bolt cutters can defeat) to keeping them from getting "yoinked"?

Thanks,

-Toby

--
'87 Flash Silver Metallic Scirocco 16V

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